Hun Dany, Secretary of State and Spokeswoman for Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, credited the milestone to effective tourism promotion policies, enhanced tourism products, and improved hospitality and services, as reported by the Khmer Times.

The country’s top visitor sources included Thailand, Vietnam, China, Laos, and the U.S., she added.

In contrast, the Philippines, known as Asia’s premier beach destination, fell short of its goal of 7.7 million foreign arrivals, though it achieved a record PHP760.5 billion (US$13 billion) in tourism revenue.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Philippines received 8.2 million foreign visitors, significantly more than Cambodia’s 6.6 million.

This year, Cambodia aims to attract 7 million international tourists. To meet this target, the Cambodian government plans to simplify e-visa application procedures and reduce e-visa fees.